Please keep writing the blog!!!!!! I really love reading it. It sounds like you guys are settling in well in Zibo (have you worked out how to pronounce it yet). Loved the reference to Erik it made me chuckle. Enjoy the new year which i bet will be an experience. Love Dye xxx
Mongolia Hi Jessica, we stayed at the Golden Gobi guesthouse in UB, it's a brilliant hostel (it's in the LP). We arranged the trip with them- they have loads of drivers and guides. You tell them what you want to see and they organise a great trip! It's really easy aand you can do it when you get there. It was low season when we went so we didn't have to arrange anything in advance but it might be a good idea to email ahead if you're going in summer and see what they say. My tip is take wet wipes!
Speaking to & seeing you - WOW! The Skype link has been thrilling for us - made my Festive Season - sorry I looked like a ghost, Tris! Thanks for all the latest photos ,both looking so happy! Keep loving! Big hugs from all of us. Bon-Mum xxx
driving trip of mongolia Hi! My husband and I are looking into going to mongolia in 09 and I was wondering how you found the driver/guide to take you on the trip across the country? did you meet them once you got to UB? any tips would be appreciated! have a happy new year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Happy New Year to an amazing couple! - we wish you so much fun, happiness, good health and success as you spend most of 2009 in China! It was SO good to speak to you both on Christmas Day and to read your blog and find that you had such a special time. The Christmas stars you sent went straight onto our festive table so we felt you with us. So appreciated your cards and the notes inside. Big hugs and love from us all! Bon-Mum xxx
Happy New Year (Julian Calendar) Hey guys. We've really enjoyed reading your blogs - keep them coming! Hope next year will be as exciting - if that's possible.
Lots of love from Nick, Ruth, Rachel, Anna and Ben.xx
Merry Christmas!
Merry christmas pals! Glad you had a fab day despite being far from home. Sounds like you had some well deserved pampering after all that mutton and lack of toilet facilities you've been experiencing!
I saw Hannah T last night in Ashbourne and we were discussing how much we both enjoy reading your blog, and how amazed we are by your exciting adventures! You are inspiring lots of people!
Hope China is still going well, xxxx
at last we can say "been there, done it" but certainly not in the way you have! Riding bikes in beijing and going to the night market! We only did the touristy bits. I can just imagine the chinese wanting to take photos of youboth with them. love from both of us G and G
oooh!! i think i know which hostel you're staying in!! what's it called? if it's the one i'm thinking of there's a really amazing restaurant not far from you that's more for locals and so not very expensive. glad you're having a great time, merry christmas to you both!
Merry Christmas Well...thank you to Mum/Dad of Tristan for making sure our fab travellers are going to get Christmas in comfort!..
Merry Christmas and lots of love to you both from Fran,Steve,Joe ,Sam,Toby,and Benj.
xxxxxx
So good to SPEAK to you both! It has been wonderful to actually speak to you both this weekend - sounding well, happy, excited and so interesting .. clear as a bell, too! Love you both SO much! Big hugs! Mum-Bon xxx
so much meat! Hey guys, i have just re-read all your blog entries and it just all sounds so amazing. your blogs are great they really give a good insight into your journey- well done. i'm very proud of both of you i'm not sure i could hack the cold never mind everything else. It sounds like your making the most of your experience and embracing the culture. what did horse meat taste like?
I'm home for christmas now and its not the same without you charles. i eagerly await your reports from beijing. much love. xx
Charlie on a horse/donkey!?! Hey guys, i hope i'm doing this right, i get very confused with technology....i had my last exam yesterday, which is why i have been rubbish at contactign you! It looks AMAZING what you're up to...i've just quickly browsed some of the pics and saw Charlie on a horse, you look like a natural my love. I will try get to grips with how this blog thing works now.....i'm sure i'm being simple but i jsut see loads of links and panic, think my brain is TIRED from concentrating so hard. Love to you both x x x x x
Wow Charlie and Tristan, your trip sounds absolutely amazing! I can't believe you're experiencing so many incredible things and places (tho I'm not sure about the mystery meat and outdoor toileting facilities). Glad you're having the time of your life, lots of love xx
Amazed by the Gobi Great blog Charlie! So interesting. What a privelidge to be able to go into the yurts and stay with local people.
We are all fine. Anna is home from uni. She has had a great term. Rachel is back tomorrow. I am still working hard. We are doing some more conferences again in the new year. The 5 of us are off to Marrakesh for the weekend after Christmas. I am kidnapping the children to have time with them! I have shared your blog around including Nicola at work and also Jan. I think she can do several Wideworld magazine articles already! Lots of love. XXXX
Best Birthday present - EVER! So fantastic to hear from you over the weekend when we were all together, belatedly celebrating my Birthday.. and to know you were thinking of us! Your photographs are truly AMAZING - pleased I only saw the one stuck in the snow once you were safely back from your Mongolian adventure!! Love Bon-Mum xxx
WOW! I can hardly believe what I'm reading...better than any geog. book. anything I write will seem so tame after reading your blog; and the photos..they help to make it a bit more real. I love the one of you on the horse and the one with Dumpling. lots of love from both of us G and G
well you two i have just read all about your time in mongolia and i have to say that im speechless....you must be having the time of your lives?! looking forward to the next one....wish i had time to write as much back...sorry! take care and enjoy your journey into china. px
Wow, yet another fascinating blog! This is fast becoming a brilliant read, maybe you will be able to make a book out of all your experiences when you return! The most recent pictures are beautiful, it looks amazing out there. I also particularly love the name Dumpling for the puppy, how cute! Can't wait to read your next posts. Hope you're not too sick of mutton - at least you can get some nice chinesey food soon! Take care, lots of love xxxx
Amazing! Another amazing blog, with some great pics. I particularly liked the ones of you eating the meat and the frozen waterfall. I'm pleased to see that all the planning has paid of and this trip really is turning out great.
I think you were very brave for eating all the bits of meat.
Love to hear some more soon
Clairexxx
Dumpling Hehe you'd think that you were talking about charlie in that photo if you hadnt read about dumpling in the blog! This trip sounds so amazing you two. I had no idea you would be travelling through such remote places and experiencing all these things! So happy for you. Me n laura got our flights booked on saturday so will be arriving in Beijing on June 15th/16th! I'll need to hear all about it once you guys get there. Keep us posted xxx
hi ruth, glad you like the geography bit of my blog! darkness hours aren't too bad here (we're quite a bit further south than home)- it's not completely dark til about 7 or so and Ulan Bator's safe so being out after dark is fine. have a really good christmas! lots of love charlie x x x
hi amy,
i think being in mongolia for the festival would be amazing! not sure on the UB-China train coz we haven't done it yet but i'm sure the russian bit would be fine on your own. we were in kupe class all the time and you can lock the door. the russians were really nice and looked afer us on the train. if you end up in a compartment with funny people i think you can request to be moved (by the carriage attendent). good luck!
so cool Love reading about Mongolia.....I live in Oklahoma, and I'm sitting in my work cubical. Keep the blogs coming, and photos! I'm trying to go this summer for the Naddam festival.....do you think it would be safe for a girl to take the train from China to Russia on her own? I've backpacked a lot by myself, but never Asia. Cheers!
Top geographer Hi Charlie, Your blogs are amazing! I was really interested in the Lake Biakal bit. I must get a map of the tectonic plates out! Well done on getting so far. It all sounds so cold, I am sure there are better times of year to visit. What are the hours of darkness like? Not sure of your latitude the nice map that goes with the blog does not have lat and long on! I am sure you can write a good article for Jane's magazine from the blogs so far. All is good here in Sheffield. We are a bit cold! Anna is back from Uni next weekend. She has had a good term. Look forward to your next news on what Mongolia is like. Take care. Love Ruth XX
We're travelling from the UK to China to take up a teaching post in Shandong Province from Jan-Sept 09. We leave the UK in November 08 and fly to Tallinn, Estonia. We then cross the boarder in to Russia and travel to St. Petersburg then Moscow where we'll set off on the Trans-Siberian Railway. At Lake Baikal we will head south through Mongolia; arriving in Beijing by Christmas. In January we will make our way to Zibo where we will be teaching English until September.
We'll try and keep our blog up to date. Hope you enjoy reading it!
Update: We have a new job and we're staying in China ... full info
erin and adam
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Please keep writing the blog!!!!!! I really love reading it. It sounds like you guys are settling in well in Zibo (have you worked out how to pronounce it yet). Loved the reference to Erik it made me chuckle. Enjoy the new year which i bet will be an experience. Love Dye xxx